|
Stephen Burch's Birding & Dragonfly Website |
|
Home | Trip Reports | Gallery | UK index | Oxon pics | UK pics | Dragonflies | Other Nature | Links |
|
|
![]() |
Migrant Hawker, Maldon, Essex 28 September 2013 A very dozy individual which allowed a much closer approach with my hand-held macro lens than is normally possible with hawkers. |
![]() |
Willow Emerald, Maldon, Essex 28 September 2013 This species is my fifth new addition to my photo collection of British dragonflies and damselflies this year, and caps a very successful summer. We were lucky with the weather on this trip - it was only just good enough for these to show when it brightened up briefly from time to time. Click to enlarge |
![]() |
Willow Emeralds, Maldon, Essex 28 September 2013 See above. This tandem pair was settled on this tree above the river in a brief brighter spell. |
![]() |
Emerald Damselfly, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 7 September 2013 I managed to find five of this species which was first recorded from this site only last year. I hope they are here to stay, but much will probably depend on the water level (falling fast at present). |
![]() |
Migrant Hawker, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 31 August 2013 An obliging settled individual. Click to enlarge |
![]() |
Migrant Hawker, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 31 August 2013 A close up taken from the photo above. |
![]() |
Migrant Hawker, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 31 August 2013 The customary late season flight shot of one of these! Present in reasonable numbers (c. 10) today in quite good conditions where sheltered from the cool wind. |
![]() |
Common Darter, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 10 August 2013 Many present today, especially when the sun came out briefly. |
![]() |
Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 10 August 2013 The speciality of this site where it has been seen every year since at least 2006. I could only find one in less than brilliant conditions though, and that was hardly obliging being well out from the bank. |
![]() |
Azure Hawker, Bridge of Grudie, Highland 20 July 2013 Much brighter & hotter conditions than a week ago (almost too hot - nothing was settling for any length of time). I was fortunate to get a few photos of this superb Azure Hawker settled momentarily on this old tree stump. |
![]() |
Northern Emerald, Bridge of Grudie, Highland 20 July 2013 A poor record shot of this elusive species, high up in a tree, where this female stayed for ages. There was no way to get a better photo! The diagnostic yellow spot on the side of the base of the abdomen is just visible. This photo made it four additions to my UK Odonata collection in successive weeks - a remarkable sequence, impossible now to repeat! |
![]() |
Azure Hawker, Bridge of Grudie, Highland 13 July 2013 I'm grateful to another group of 4 Odonata seekers who found this in a brief spell of slightly brighter conditions. However I was only able to get a short sequence of shots before they flushed it (no thanks for that guys!). This makes up for the "one that got away" at this site two years ago. |
![]() |
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Latchmore Brook, New Forest,
Hampshire 6 July 2013 Following an unsuccessful visit to the New Forest for this species in 2011, I was very pleased to connect with a couple of males on this visit in excellent conditions. Many thanks indeed to Paul Ritchie for his spot on directions! Click pic to enlarge. |
![]() |
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, Latchmore Brook, New Forest,
Hampshire 6 July 2013 See above - the view of the upperside. Note the characteristic small amount of blue on the rear of segment 8, and the two tiny dark spots on segment 9. |
![]() |
Broad-bodied Chaser, Shellingford Pit, Oxon 30 June 2013 Back to my local site today for the first time this season - in great conditions for dragonflies. Makes a nice change! |
![]() |
Four spotted Chaser, Decoy Heath, Berks 29 June 2013 On one of the other pools that are now getting quite difficult to find/access. |
![]() |
Brilliant Emerald, Decoy Heath, Berks 29 June 2013 A new species for me and one that I have been after for some time now!! It wasn't easy to get even this mediocre flight shot but it is identifiable - note the yellow on the frons that is absent on Downy Emerald (which was also present flying around above the same pool, but at a lower level). Thanks to Adrian Hickman for the heads up on this one. |
![]() |
Hairy Dragonfly, Roman Road, Otmoor, Oxon 8 June 2013 As I have found previously - a difficult species to photograph well. This one only settled for a few moments before flying off and disappearing. Unfortunately a battered specimen - with one wing almost entirely missing. |
![]() |
Four Spotted Chaser, Roman Road, Otmoor, Oxon 8 June 2013 Only one or two of these were showing from time to time. |
![]() |
Azure Damselfly, Roman Road, Otmoor, Oxon 8 June 2013 Seems to be "the" dragonfly site in the county at present! Being sheltered certainly helps. There were hundred's of Azure's along this short stretch of path. |
![]() |
Large Red Damselfly, Pinkhill, Oxon
18 May 2013 Again a late start to the dragonfly season this year, but not
as bad as last year! The weather today was hardly conducive though, and this was
the only Odonata I found - in a sheltered spot. |
© All pictures copyright Stephen Burch |